The Centre for Empowerment of Women, Anna University was established in the year 2002 with the main aim of striving to improve the quality of life of women through transfer of knowledge and technology and make the women empowered economically, socially, culturally and psychologically in order to make the complete use of their potential to the growth of the nation.

Keeping the above objective in view, the Centre for Empowerment of Women has been conducting Seminars, Workshops and Programmes related to Women Empowerment. The Centre conducts talks and interactive sessions on gender issues and women in science and technology with the expertise of renowned personalities from diverse fields. This provides inspiration and motivation to the women staff and students thereby helping them to balance their career and home. In addition to that the centre is very keen on conducting gender sensitization programmes. These programmes are being organized for the first semester students of Anna University to ensure gender friendly environment in the campus.

The centre has also been undertaking community outreach programmes especially for the urban downtrodden women of Chennai by way of conducting computer training programmes and many public relation campaigns. The Centre periodically conducts exhibitions in coordination with the Tamilnadu Corporation for Development of Women Ltd. The exhibits are products made by Self Help Group women. This is to help the women market their products and also to generate a source of income for them.

About the Day Care Centres – Extension activity of Centre for Empowerment of Women:

Day Care Centre, Main Campus:

The Day Care Centre in the Main campus was started in the year 2002 with a grant of Rs.2.00 lakhs from UGC, New Delhi with an aim of providing day care to the children of staff of Anna University. Children from the age group of 1 – 13 years are taken care of in the Centre. The Centre has at present 12 children. The fees is collected according to the duration, the children avail the service ranging from full day care (8.30 am to 5.30 pm), half day care (12.00 pm to 5.00 pm), or after school hours (3.00 pm to 5.30 pm) and one day care. The centre is equipped with air-conditioners, cots, play materials for both indoor and outdoor play and there is a children library stocked with moral story books. The children are engaged in activities like reading and painting in the Centre. The Centre also conducts Competitions for the children periodically like Drawing competition and other games. In the Day Care Centre, there are three Peons under daily wages attending to the needs of the children.

About the Day Care Centre, MIT Campus:

The Day Care Centre at MIT Campus was started in the year 2009 with funds from UGC. In MIT there are about 10 – 12 children being taken care of. Mrs.T.Catherine Bina, Head i/c, Computer Centre is the Coordinator. There are 2 Peons under daily wages working in the Day Care Centre at MIT. The time slot is similar to that of the Main campus Day Care Centre. The MIT Campus, Day Care Centre is also well equipped with good infrastructure facilities as that of the Main campus. Competitions and other activities are periodically undertaken for the children.

Agencies involved with the Activities of the Centre:

• Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board, Chennai
• Tamil Nadu Corporation for Developm ent of Women, Chennai
• Directorate of Rural Development, Tamil Nadu, Chennai
• Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Scheme, Tbiruvallur
• Small Industries Service Institute, Chennai
• Banks
• Industrial and Technical Consultancy Organization of Tamil Nadu Limited, Chennai.
• Madras School of Social Work, Chennai.